Positioning Myself (hopefully) CPA + CFA = Corp Finance?
Okay so with my background. I graduated from the 2nd smallest Division 1AA school in the country (obviously non-target school) in 2011 with a SH!T gpa. I attribute it to being immature and just overloading my schedule. I was an Accounting, Finance, and Management major. I also played football and did Shot/Hammer/Weight in Track and Field.... Oh and I was president of my fraternity.
Needless to say my extra-curricular activities kinda overrode my responsibility to my classes. I currently an analyst in the Public Finance space(Advisory). My transaction experience is largely municipal bonds/direct placement/bank loans. I am currently studying for FAR and BEC which I will be taking in July/Aug and then will be taking CFA Level 1 in Dec.
If all goes well I will be done with the CPA and a level 3 candidate next fall. My question is... At that point would I be a good candidate for an associate (entry level) role in Big 4 Corporate Finance?
Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated. I have only ever found a couple threads on people having the CFA and the CPA together... 99% of threads are why one is better than the other. What kinds of career paths would I have open to me once I have both?





I don't think the combination
I don't think the combination is anything to write home about; most of the CPA/CFAs I've come across are the types who jumped over to finance after a period in accounting. Kind of like having a MD/CFA working at a healthcare hedge fund. Good to have, but by no means a requirement.
To answer this more specifically, is the role you're shooting for something like Big 4 CF? Those groups are very small and from what I understand like to draw on people with actual banking experience, not Big 4 advisory.
N.B.: Ex-Big 4, CPA, Level 2 candidate in the CFA program.
Yes. I am hoping to go into
Yes. I am hoping to go into Big 4 CF..
While my current industry/experience wont allow me to PE/HF/IB would passing the CPA and going through the CFA help me in the door at the entry level analyst/associate level in the Big 4? It doesn't even necessarily have to be at the Big 4.
I need to transition into an accounting related function where I can fulfill the CPA work experience requirement for licensing
I don't really think it's
I don't really think it's that relevant to pursue CPA if you want to go to DCF or its ilk. Just because it's part of an accounting firm doesn't necessarily mean you need an accounting background to work in some of the groups. Some of the guys on LinkedIn have undergrad accounting degrees but went straight into a finance role before ending up there. CPA doesn't make you overqualified by any means, it's just irrelevant.
Also, why Big 4 CF? They're not even that well respected in the middle market compared to a Houlihan Lokey or Harris Williams.
Hey I don't have either the
Hey I don't have either the CFA or CPA either, but I am working towards a charter in both, well not exactly CPA but the UK equivalent offered by the CIMA
CFA - Level III Candidate
CIMA - Final Candidate (E3,P3,F3 Exams)
I want to do an MBA/MSc Fin in the future as well to break into proper buy-side; currently at a well respected AM shop in the UK
Simplicity is the highest form of sophistication ~ Leonardo da Vinci
jack callahan: I don't really
I don't really think it's that relevant to pursue CPA if you want to go to DCF or its ilk. Just because it's part of an accounting firm doesn't necessarily mean you need an accounting background to work in some of the groups. Some of the guys on LinkedIn have undergrad accounting degrees but went straight into a finance role before ending up there. CPA doesn't make you overqualified by any means, it's just irrelevant.
Also, why Big 4 CF? They're not even that well respected in the middle market compared to a Houlihan Lokey or Harris Williams.
Can you send me a link for a list of middle market guys that would fall into the category? It doesn't have to be Big 4.
The reasoning behind the CPA is because while it may not be particularly relevant, I hope it will help compensate for my low gpa.
I am actually currently in Finance... And trying to go into a financeish function in accounting, which is why I originally wanted to do the CPA
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=list+of+
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=list+of+middle+market+investm...
Good luck, friend
jack
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=list+of+middle+market+investment+banks
Good luck, friend
hahahaha... I meant if you knew from experience. but thanks